Target system with unique target sensing

ABSTRACT

A portable target apparatus is described including a threat/shoot target and a no threat/no shoot target positioned near the threat/shoot target. A user defined number of projectile impacts on only the threat/shoot target move it to a position out of the shooter&#39;s field-of-view. The threat/shoot target remains in the shooter&#39;s field-of-view whenever the no threat/no shoot target is impacted by a projectile.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/231,537 filed on Jul. 10, 2015 andtitled, “A unique Pop-Up/Pop/Out Motor Driven Target”, sections of thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

REFERENCES CITED U.S. PATENT AND PUBLISHED DOCUMENTS

Document Number Issue date Assignee 4,551,794 November 1985 Sandell4,723,233 February 1988 Beebe 5,676,378 October 1997 West 8,534,672September 2013 Brune 2006/0125185 June 2006 Rolfe 2013/0207347 August2013 Sovine 2009/0194943 August 2009 Amitai et al. 2011/0149055 June2011 Burch et al. 2003/0134700 July 2003 Salva 2003/0082502 May 2003Stender et al. 2012/0043722 February 2012 Mironichev et al. 2014/0028856January 2014 Ehrlich 2005/0017456 January 2005 Shechter 2006/0005447January 2006 Lenner et al. 0,051,953 May 2002 Clark et al. 5,462,283October 1995 Allen 5,557,685 September 1996 Schlossers et al. 6,322,365November 2001 Shechter et al. 6,367,800 April 2002 Sheck et al.6,604,946 August 2003 Oakes 6,863,532 March 2005 Ambrosoli 6,966,775November 2005 Kendir et al. 8,051,597 November 2011 D'Souza et al.8,105,087 January 2012 Valentini

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The proposed invention relates to target systems and more particularlyto a portable target system that presents a threat/shoot target thatmust be impacted by a user selectable number of projectiles to cause thethreat/shoot target to move out of the user's field-of-view. Uniquely,the system also presents a no threat/no shoot target that must not beimpacted by any projectile. When the no threat/no shoot target isimpacted by a projectile, the threat/shoot target does not move out ofthe shooter's field-of-view even when the threat/shoot target isimpacted by the same projectile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Properly training military, civilian and law enforcement personnel(shooters) in the correct and accurate use of firearms requires targetsystems that mimic events and encounters they are likely to experiencein a real-life firearms confrontation.

The target systems of today do not present these real-life scenarios tothe shooters during training. These systems employ a threat/shoot targetwith a sensor and when the threat/shoot target is impacted by a userselectable number of projectiles, the control electronic circuitrywithin the system causes a positioning drive system to move thethreat/shoot target out of the shooter's FOV.

More specifically, when a projectile hits the target, the target doesnot distinguish between non-vital anatomical regions, e.g., a regionthat represents a person's shoulder, and vital anatomical regions, e.g.,a region that represents the person's chest or head. Said another way,the target produces the same reaction and moves out of the shooter's FOVin exactly the same manner, irrespective of whether a vital or anon-vital anatomical region was hit by the projectile. These systems arein the public domain at present but not in a configuration wherein thethreat/shoot target alone must be accurately impacted by projectiles anda no threat/no shoot target positioned in close proximity to thethreat/shoot target must never be impacted by a projectile.

The above referenced target systems have several serious trainingdeficiencies. First and most importantly, they do not allow the FI toevaluate the ability of the shooter to accurately engage a threat/shoottarget that should be impacted by a projectile, when there is a nothreat/no shoot target that should not be impacted by a projectilepositioned near the threat/shoot target. Additionally, the systems oftoday do not alert the FI and shooter as to the reason the threat/shoottarget did not move out of their field-of-view when the shooter sent aprojectile at the threat/shoot target, i.e. did their projectile missthe threat/shoot target entirely or did the projectile erroneouslyimpact the no threat/no shoot target?

Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art asdiscussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein provides a portable target apparatus thatovercomes the before-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-knowntarget devices and methods of this general type and comprises a uniquetarget training system that moves a threat/shoot target out of ashooter's field-of-view only when the threat/shoot target alone isimpacted by a user selectable number of projectiles and also presents ano threat/no shoot target located near the threat/shoot target is not tobe impacted by any projectiles. When the no threat/no shoot target isimpacted by any projectiles the threat/shoot target does not move out ofthe shooter's field-of-view even when the projectile also impacts thethreat/shoot target.

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting.

The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more thanone. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are definedas comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein,is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and notnecessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in itsbroadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, makingavailable, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or inmultiple parts at once or over a period of time.

The term “projectile” should be understood to mean any of a number ofrapidly moving objects that may cause physical discomfort, harm or deathwhen they impact a human body. These can include, but are not limitedto, a hard-nosed bullet or soft-nosed training bullet fired from afirearm, an arrow launched from a tension bow, a knife that is thrust orthrown, etc. In the following treatise, the word “projectile” is usedfor clarity.

The term “lateral” should be understood to mean in a directioncorresponding to a plane transverse and in line with the plane of thethreat/shoot target and no threat/no shoot target.

“FOV” is the abbreviation for the term field-of-view and describes thearea visible to the shooter.

Additionally the term “shooter” is intended to define the person usingthe firearm or projectile launcher with the intention to accuratelyimpact only the threat/shoot target and not impact the no threat/noshoot.

The term “FI” is an abbreviation for the term Firearms Instructor anddefines the person operating the invention and who, by using a remotecontrol, programs the number of projectile impacts the threat/shootalone must sustain before the threat/shoot moves out of the shooter'sfield-of-view. The FI can also cause the threat/shoot, after moving to aposition out of the shooter's field-of-view, to remain out of theshooter's field-of-view for a selectable time interval by use of anadjustable time control on the front of the control electronics unit.

The term “light” is intended to mean any one of a number of visibleindicators including a simple incandescent lamp, a high-intensitystrobe, an LED or an arc light; the light having a distinct color.Additionally, but not referenced in the text, the indicator may also bean audible tone or a vibration device.

The proposed invention is comprised of a “threat/shoot target”(hereinafter known as the Primary Target) positioned in the FOV of theshooter. Positioned near to the Primary Target is a “no threat/no shoottarget”, (hereinafter known as the Secondary Target) that simulates aninnocent bystander positioned in close proximity to the Primary Targetor additionally may represent a selective area target that should not beimpacted by a projectile as will be described herein.

The FI may program the control electronics unit of the invention such asto require the shooter to impact the Primary Target with a userselectable number of projectiles before the Primary Target moves out ofthe shooter's FOV. This capability is in the public domain, but not in aconfiguration wherein the Primary Target alone must be accuratelyimpacted by projectiles and the Secondary Target must never be impactedby a projectile, as will be described herein.

The present invention is unique in the ability to provide severalimportant and new firearms training capabilities. As an example, whenonly the Primary Target is impacted by a projectile the presentinvention alerts the shooter by extinguishing a light for a timeinterval e.g. 200 milliseconds.

Additionally when a projectile aimed at the Primary Target is errant anderroneously impacts the Secondary Target the light extinguishes for anoticeably different time interval e.g. 500 milliseconds.

Additionally, the electronic circuitry that counts the number ofprojectile impacts on the Primary Target does not count the projectileimpact on the Primary Target when the Secondary Target is impacted bythe same projectile.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, inaccordance with the present invention, a portable target apparatusincluding the Primary Target and the Secondary Target located near thePrimary Target. The Primary Target is connected to a control electronicscircuit that senses when the Primary Target is impacted by at least oneprojectile. A second independent control electronics circuit is coupledto the Secondary Target and senses when the Secondary Target is impactedby at least one projectile. A position drive system is attached to thePrimary Target and is operable to retain the Primary Target in aposition within the shooter's FOV until only the Primary Target isimpacted by a user selectable number of projectiles and the SecondaryTarget is not impacted by any projectiles. The position drive systemthen moves the Primary Target out of the shooter's FOV for a userdetermined time interval and then returns the Primary Target into theshooter's FOV for further training.

The present invention provides a novel and efficient portable targetapparatus designed primarily for use in firearms training to properlytrain a shooter to impact only one target, namely the Primary Target,with a user selectable number of projectiles and to never impact theSecondary Target with any projectiles. The portable target apparatusincludes engagement portions, e.g. the Primary Target that should beimpacted by projectiles, and non-engagement portions, e.g. the SecondaryTarget that should not be impacted by projectiles.

The engagement portions of the Primary Target may represent the entirehuman body area of a person that should be impacted by a projectile. Thenon-engagement portions of the Secondary Target may also represent theentire human body of a person that should not be impacted by aprojectile in any area at any time.

Alternately a Secondary Target may be manufactured with one or moreaperture. The aperture represent anatomically sensitive locations on ahuman body, such as the center of mass of the body and/or the head areasof the human body. The location of the aperture correspond to the area aprojectile must pass thru on the Secondary Target without impacting theSecondary Target itself. The projectile, after passing thru the aperturein the Secondary Target, impacts only the Primary Target that, in thisexample, is positioned directly behind the Secondary Target. Thisembodiment requires the shooter to accurately pass the projectile thruthe aperture to demonstrate having made an accurate impact on theanatomical area of the Secondary Target as defined by the aperture inthe Secondary Target.

Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention provide the shooterwith multiple levels of visual feedback such as when only the PrimaryTarget is accurately impacted by a projectile; when the Secondary Targetalone is impacted by a projectile and when the Primary Target and theSecondary Target are impacted by the same projectile.

More specifically, the portable target apparatus includes a PrimaryTarget that moves from the position within the shooter's FOV, to theposition out of the shooter's FOV, only when the Primary Target alone isaccurately impacted by a user selectable number of projectiles.

In one embodiment, the portable target apparatus is configured such thatwhen the Primary Target is in the position within the shooter's FOV, alight illuminates alerting the shooter to the presence of the PrimaryTarget. A user selectable number of projectile impacts to only thePrimary Target will cause the Primary Target to move out of theshooter's FOV and extinguish the light.

When using multiple portable target systems, each with a user definedcolored light, another training capability is available to the FI. As anexample, the FI may position portable target systems at distances of 15,25 and 75 yards from the shooter, each having a red colored light.Additionally in this example, portable target systems may be positionedat 20, 100 and 200 yards, each having a white colored light. Lastlyportable target systems with yellow colored lights may be positioned at50, 125 and 300 yards. With the shooter ready and all the portabletarget systems in the shooter's FOV and the various colored lightsvisible, the FI can indicate a sequence of colors, such as“red”/“yellow”/“white” requiring the shooter to engage the portabletarget systems with red colored lights first, yellow colored lights nextand white colored lights last, until all the Primary Targets have beensuccessfully engaged and moved to the position out of the shooter's FOVand all the colored lights have extinguished. Various colors, includingbut not limited to red, white, blue, green, amber and yellow may be usedto increase the firearms training challenge.

In another example, when the FI has programmed the control electronicsunit to require the shooter to accurately impact the Primary Target withmore than one projectile, a projectile impact to only the Primary Targetwill cause the Primary Target to remain in the position within theshooter's FOV and the colored light to be extinguished for a timeinterval e.g. 200 milliseconds, indicating to the shooter that they madean accurate projectile impact on only the Primary Target.

But because the Primary Target did not move to the position out of theshooter's FOV, the shooter immediately recognizes that he/she mustcontinue to engage the Primary Target with more projectiles and notimpact the Secondary Target, until such time as the Primary Target doesmove to the position out of the shooter's FOV. The number of projectileimpacts required to move the Primary Target to the position out ofthe-shooter's FOV, corresponds to the count number programmed into thecontrol electronics unit using the remote control.

In this embodiment, a projectile impact to the Secondary Target willcause the Primary Target and Secondary Target to remain in the shooter'sFOV and the light to be extinguished for a discernably longer timeinterval e.g. 500 milliseconds, than was visible to the shooter when theprojectile impacted only the Primary Target e.g. 200 milliseconds. Thisindicates to the FI and shooter that the shooter made an inaccurateprojectile impact on the Secondary Target, even when the projectile alsoimpacts the Primary Target.

Additionally, in this example, the control electronics unit recognizesthe inaccurate impact on the Secondary Target and the Primary Targetimpact counter within the control electronics unit does not count down 1digit as when the Primary Target alone has been accurately impacted by aprojectile. Further combinations may be provided and are within thescope of the invention.

In addition, embodiments of the invention provide a means for the FI toinput a selectable delay time interval by use of a rotatable adjustmentcontrol located on the front of the control electronics unit that, afterthe Primary Target moves from the position within the-shooter's FOV tothe position not in the shooter's FOV, will cause the Primary Target toremain out of the shooter's FOV until the selectable delay time intervalhas expired and to then return the Primary Target back into theshooter's FOV. This capability is in the public domain but not in aconfiguration wherein the Primary Target alone must be accuratelyimpacted by projectiles and the Secondary Target must never be impactedby a projectile.

A portable target apparatus has been disclosed that features a PrimaryTarget that must be accurately impacted by a user defined number ofprojectiles in order to move the Primary Target from the position withinthe shooter's FOV to a position not within the shooter's FOV. It isenvisioned that the portable target apparatus will be used primarily infirearms training. This unique training capability provides the FI andshooter with a visual indication as to when the Primary Target only wasaccurately impacted by a projectile and additionally a distinctlydifferent visual indication when the Secondary Target was erroneouslyimpacted by a projectile.

The Secondary Target may be manufactured with apertures that correspondto anatomically sensitive areas of the human body. In thisconfiguration, the Primary Target is positioned directly behind theSecondary Target and when the shooter accurately sends a projectile atthe Secondary Target and the projectile passes thru the aperture in theSecondary Target and does not impact any area of the Secondary Target,the projectile impacts only the Primary Target. The system thenindicates to the shooter that they made an accurate hit on only thePrimary Target by means of the light extinguishing for a time intervalsuch as 200 millisecond time interval, and that the shooter would havecorrectly impacted those anatomical areas of a human body thatcorrespond to the aperture in the Secondary Target.

A projectile impact on any area of the Secondary Target is indicated tothe shooter wherein the light extinguishes for a different time intervalsuch as 500 milliseconds and alerts the shooter that the projectileincorrectly impacted the Secondary Target.

In addition, embodiments of the invention provide the FI with theability to alter the number of projectile impacts that must impact thePrimary Target only, before the Primary Target moves out of theshooter's FOV. This capability is in the public domain but not in aconfiguration wherein the Primary Target alone must be accuratelyimpacted by projectiles and the Secondary Target must never be impactedby a projectile.

Other features of the invention have been disclosed that include usingvarious colored lights to require the shooter to engage the PrimaryTargets on multiple portable target apparatus with colored lights, in adefined sequence of colors before engaging Primary Targets on otherportable target apparatus with different colored lights.

These capabilities are novel in the firearms training field aspresenting training scenarios that the shooter may experience in areal-life firearms confrontation i.e. multiple threat/shoot targets atvarious distances from the shooter.

These capabilities are not intended to be limited to the particulardetails disclosed herein. While the specification concludes with claimsdefining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it isbelieved that the invention will be better understood from aconsideration of the following description in conjunction with thedrawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following numbered components appear at various locations on thedrawings:

-   12 Primary Target-   14 Secondary Target-   16 base frame-   18 projectile-   20 colored indicating light-   22 aperture-   24 position drive assembly-   26 position drive and indicating light control circuitry-   28 Primary sensor-   30 Primary cable-   32 Secondary sensor-   34 Secondary cable-   36 Primary Pulse Generator PPG1-   38 Secondary Pulse Generator SPG-   40 Primary Pulse Generator PPG2-   42 delay pulse generator DPG-   44 count control-   46 remote control-   48 hold-off signal-   50 control electronics unit

The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate viewsand which together with the detailed description below are incorporatedin and form part of the specification, serve to further illustratevarious embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all inaccordance with the present invention.

(FIG. 1) is an elevational front view of a portable target apparatusshowing a Primary Target and a Secondary Target in a position within theshooter's FOV and a projectile moving toward the Primary Target andSecondary Target in accordance with the present invention;

(FIG. 2) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatusshowing the Primary Target and the Secondary Target containing an arearemoved from the Secondary Target that coincides with the center mass ofa human body and a projectile moving toward the removed area of theSecondary Target; the Primary Target and Secondary Target being in theposition within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the presentinvention;

(FIG. 3) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatusshowing the Primary Target and Secondary Target containing an arearemoved from the Secondary Target that coincides with a critical area ofthe head of the human body and a projectile moving toward the removedarea of the Secondary Target; the Primary Target and Secondary Targetbeing in the position within the shooter's FOV in accordance with thepresent invention;

(FIG. 4) is an elevational side view of the portable target apparatus of(FIG. 3) showing a position drive assembly coupled to the Primary Targetand a projectile moving toward the removed area of the Secondary Targetwith the Primary Target and Secondary Target being in the positionwithin the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

(FIG. 5) is an elevational side view of the portable target apparatus of(FIG. 4) showing the Primary Target in the position not within theshooter's FOV, the projectile having passed thru the Secondary Targetand not impacting the Secondary Target in accordance with the presentinvention;

(FIG. 6) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatusof (FIG. 1) showing the Primary Target and Secondary Target in theposition within the shooter's FOV with the lateral distance reducedbetween the Primary Target and the Secondary Target and a projectilemoving toward the Primary Target in accordance with the presentinvention;

(FIG. 7) is an elevational downward looking view of the portable targetapparatus of (FIG. 6) showing the Primary Target and Secondary Target inthe position within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the presentinvention;

(FIG. 8) is an elevational downward looking view of the portable targetapparatus of (FIG. 5) showing the Primary Target in the position notwithin the shooter's FOV and the Secondary Target being in the positionwithin the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

(FIG. 9) is an elevational front view of a portable target apparatus of(FIG. 1) showing the Primary Target and a Primary sensor connected tothe Primary Target and a Primary cable connected to the Primary sensorand the Primary cable connected to a control electronics unit.

Additionally, (FIG. 9) demonstrates the Secondary Target and a Secondarysensor connected to the Secondary Target and a Secondary cable connectedto the control electronics unit in accordance with the presentinvention;

(FIG. 10) is a detailed block diagram of a signal flow process of thecontrol electronics in accordance with the present invention inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the invention as illustrated and described herein is embodiedin a portable target apparatus, it is, nevertheless, not intended to belimited to the details shown because various modifications andstructural changes may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of theclaims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments ofthe invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so asnot to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodimentsof the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to beunderstood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of theinvention that can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specificstructural and functional details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art tovariously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriatelydetailed structure.

Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to belimiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of theinvention While the specification concludes with claims defining thefeatures of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believedthat the invention will be better understood from a consideration of thefollowing description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in whichlike reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood thatthe disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, whichcan be embodied in various forms.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods,techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods,techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein may be used in the practice or testing of the presentinvention. Structures described herein are to be understood also torefer to functional equivalents of such structures.

Referring now to (FIG. 1), one embodiment of the present invention in anelevational front view shows several advantageous features, but, as willbe described below, the invention can be provided in various shapes,sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers andfunctions of the components.

A preferred embodiment of a portable target apparatus, as shown in (FIG.1), includes a Primary Target 12 and a Secondary Target 14 affixed to abase frame 16. The Primary Target 12 is sized and shaped to resemble aliving creature. The term “living creature” is defined herein as aperson or an animal, portrayed as living. In another embodiment, thePrimary Target 12 may be of a rectangular, circular or other similarshape. Additionally, a colored indicating light 20 is illuminated onlywhen the Primary Target 12 is in a position within the shooter's FOV. Inthis embodiment, the Secondary Target 14 is always within the shooter'sFOV but could be configured in a differing embodiment to also move outof the shooter's FOV concurrent with the Primary Target.

The Primary Target 12 is operable in conjunction with a position driveand indicating light control circuitry 26 and a position drive assembly24 to move from the Primary Target 12 from the position within theshooter's FOV (FIG. 1) to the position not within the shooter's FOV(FIG. 5) when only the Primary Target 12 is impacted by a user definednumber of projectiles 18, as will be explained further herein.

In a preferred embodiment, the Primary Target 12 and the SecondaryTarget 14 are made of a material, such as polymer, capable ofwithstanding the force of a projectile 18 by allowing the projectile 18to pass thru the Secondary Target 14 and also pass thru the PrimaryTarget 12 without causing significant damage to either the PrimaryTarget 12 or Secondary Target 14.

In one embodiment (FIG. 1) the Secondary Target 14 is positioned infront of the Primary Target 12 and represents the non-engagement portionof the Secondary Target 14 the shooter should avoid impacting with theprojectile 18. Alternately, the Secondary Target 14 may be positionedbehind the Primary Target 12 and the invention will operate in exactlythe same manner as described herein.

In a preferred embodiment, the position of the Primary Target 12 withinthe shooter's FOV is an upright and vertical position. The position notwithin the shooter's FOV is a non-vertical, non-upright position that isvisually distinct from the upright position, such as a horizontalposition, or the like.

In one embodiment (FIG. 2), a Secondary Target 14 contains an aperture22 representative of the anatomically sensitive area, i.e. vital portionof a living creature, e.g., the center mass of the body, as depicted in(FIG. 2) or the head of the human body as depicted in (FIG. 3),respectively. The term “anatomically sensitive” is defined herein asthose parts of the anatomy of a living creature that when impacted by aprojectile 18 are susceptible to causing the living creatureinstantaneous and severe trauma.

In the preferred embodiment, the shooter is required to miss theaperture 22 in the Secondary Target 14 to cause a projectile 18 to passthru the aperture 22 and to impact only the Primary Target 12 positioneddirectly behind and in alignment with the Secondary Target 14. Eachimpact of a projectile 18 will extinguish the colored indicating light20 for a predetermined time interval e.g. 200 milliseconds. When theuser selectable number of projectiles 18 passes thru aperture 22 andimpact only the Primary Target 12, the Primary Target 12 will move to aposition out of the shooter's FOV and the colored indicating light 20will extinguish.

Advantageously, when the shooter impacts the non-engagement portion ofthe Secondary Target 14 with a projectile 18 the Primary Target 12 willremain in the position within the shooter's FOV. Impacts on theSecondary Target 14 also extinguish the colored indicating light 20 fora discernably longer period of time e.g. 500 milliseconds, providing theshooter with a visual indication that the Secondary Target 14 wasimpacted by a projectile 18 and giving reason as to why the PrimaryTarget 12 did not move to the position out of the shooter's FOV and thecolored indicating light 20 did not extinguish.

In one embodiment, the Secondary Target 14 may be located at variouslateral distances from the Primary Target 12, e.g., obscuring none orobscuring only a portion of the Primary Target 12 as depicted in (FIG.6) in comparison to (FIG. 1). In the embodiment shown in (FIG. 6), theSecondary Target 14 is configured to be a solid structure free of theaperture 22. The Secondary Target 14 may represent an innocent bystanderthe shooter should aim to avoid impacting with a projectile 18. ThePrimary Target 12 represents the vital portion that the shooter shouldaim to impact with the projectile 18 to cause the Primary Target 12 tomove to the position not within the shooter's FOV. More specifically,the shooter should aim to launch the projectile 18 to impact only thevisible area of the Primary Target 12.

(FIG. 7) depicts a top down view of the portable target apparatus havingthe position drive assembly 24 connected to the Primary Target 12.Generally speaking, the position drive assembly 24 is configured to movethe Primary Target 12 from the position within the shooter's FOV to theposition not within the shooter's FOV or from the position not withinthe shooter's FOV to the position within the shooter's FOV.

(FIG. 8) depicts a top down view of the Primary Target 12 in theposition not within the shooter's FOV, such as when the shooter hasaccurately impacted only the Primary Target 12 with a user definednumber of projectiles 18.

(FIG. 9) depicts a Primary sensor 28 connected to the Primary Target 12with a Primary cable 30 connecting the Primary sensor 28 to a controlelectronics unit 50. Additionally, a Secondary sensor 32 is connected tothe Secondary Target 14 with a Secondary cable 34 connecting theSecondary sensor 32 to the control electronics unit 50.

The operation of the control electronics unit 50 will now be discussed.(FIG. 10) is a block diagram drawing depicting signal flow within thecontrol electronics unit 50.

The position of the Primary Target 12 is assumed to be in the uprightposition within the shooter's FOV and the colored indicating light 20 isilluminated as depicted in (FIG. 9).

The Primary sensor 28 when mechanically stressed, as is the case whenthe Primary Target 12 is impacted by a projectile 18, generates asignal, either by an electronics or mechanical means, that then travelsthrough the Primary cable 30 to the control electronics unit 50containing Primary Pulse Generator PPG1 36. Primary Pulse Generator PPG136 then generates a positive 5 millisecond timed pulse and whentransitioning from positive back to zero, activates Primary PulseGenerator PPG2 40 generating a positive 10 millisecond timed pulse. Whentransitioning from positive back to zero the 10 millisecond timed pulsecauses a count control 44 to reduce its count register by 1 count i.e.count down by 1 digit, from the total counts programmed into the countcontrol 44 by a remote control 46. As in this example, the count control44 is programmed using the remote control 46 to require the shooter toaccurately impact only the Primary Target 12 with 1 projectile 18 tocause the Primary Target 12 to move to the position not within theshooter's FOV. When the count control 44 counts down by 1 digit from theprogrammed count of 1, the count control in turn sends a signal to theposition control and indicating light circuitry 26 that sends a signalto the position drive assembly 24 to cause the Primary Target 12 to moveto the position not within the shooter's FOV as depicted in (FIG. 5).Additionally, the count control 44 sends a signal to the positioncontrol and indicating light circuitry 26 which extinguishes the coloredindicating light 20.

As in another example, the position of the Primary Target 12 is assumedto be in the upright position within the shooter's FOV and the coloredindicating light 20 illuminated as depicted in (FIG. 9). In this examplethe count control 44 has been programmed using the remote control 46 torequire the shooter to accurately impact only the Primary Target 12 with3 projectiles 18 to cause the Primary Target 12 to move to the positionnot within the shooter's FOV. The Primary sensor 28 when mechanicallystressed, as is the case when the Primary Target 12 is impacted by aprojectile 18, generates a signal, either by an electronics ormechanical means, that then travels through the Primary cable 30 to thecontrol electronics unit 50 activating Primary Pulse Generator PPG1 36which then generates a positive 5 millisecond timed pulse. Whentransitioning from positive back to zero the 5 millisecond timed pulseactivates, Primary Pulse Generator PPG2 40 generating a positive 10millisecond timed pulse. When transitioning from positive back to zerothe positive 10 millisecond timed pulse causes the count control 44 toreduce its count register by 1 count from the total 3 counts programmed.The count control 44 sends a signal to the position control andindicating light circuitry 26 that extinguishes the colored indicatinglight 20 for a predetermined time interval e.g. 200 milliseconds.

When the colored indicating light 20 is extinguished for thepredetermined time interval of 200 milliseconds, and the Primary Target12 does not move out of the shooter's FOV, the shooter knows he/she mustengage the Primary Target 12 with additional projectile 18 impacts tocause the Primary Target 12 to move to the position not within theshooter's FOV and fully extinguish the colored indicating light 20.

The aforementioned and described sequence of events occurs when theshooter accurately sends a user defined number of projectiles 18 thatimpact only the Primary Target 12. When the shooter inaccurately sends aprojectile 18 and impacts the Secondary Target 14 or impacts both thePrimary Target 12 and Secondary Target 14 with the same projectile 18,the following sequence of events occur.

The Secondary sensor 32 when mechanically stressed, as is the case whenthe Secondary Target 14 is impacted by a projectile 18, generates asignal either by an electronics or mechanical means to travel throughthe Secondary cable 34 to the control electronics unit 50 containing aSecondary Pulse Generator SPG 38 that generates a positive 500millisecond timed pulse. If the Primary Target 12 was also impacted bythe same projectile 18, the Primary sensor 28 is activated and sends asignal to the Primary Pulse Generator PPG 1 36 by the aforementionedsequence of events that generates a positive 5 millisecond timed pulse.When the Primary Pulse Generator PPG1 36 times out the positive 5millisecond pulse while transitioning back to zero attempts to activatePrimary Pulse Generator PPG2 40, but Primary Pulse Generator PPG2 40, isprevented from generating a 5 millisecond signal to send to the countcontrol 44 because a hold off signal 48 from Secondary Pulse GeneratorSPG 38 has the time interval of 500 milliseconds. The 500 millisecondpulse from Secondary Pulse Generator SPG 38 also causes the positiondrive and colored indicating light control circuitry 26 to extinguishthe colored indicating light 20 for the 500 milliseconds. This actiondemonstrates to the shooter that the Secondary Target 14 was incorrectlyimpacted by the projectile 18 and additionally that the shooter did notcompletely miss the Primary Target 12 and/or the Secondary Target 14.

Advantages of the Proposed Invention

The advantages of the proposed invention are obvious to those schooledin the art of training individuals to correctly and accurately employfirearms. The invention alerts both the FI and shooter when the PrimaryTarget is in their FOV by illuminating a colored indicating light andindicates when an accurate projectile impacts the Primary Target aloneby extinguishing the colored indicating light for a predetermined timeinterval e.g. 200 milliseconds.

When the correct number of projectile impacts on only the Primary Targetequal the number programmed into the control electronic unit the PrimaryTarget moves out of the shooter's FOV and the colored indicating lightextinguishes.

Most importantly, the invention also alerts the FI and shooter when aninaccurate projectile impact has been made on the Secondary Target byextinguishing the colored indicating light for a longer time intervale.g. 500 milliseconds than was observed when the Primary Target alonewas impacted by a projectile and additionally prevents the count controlwithin the control electronic unit from indexing down one digit.

A further advantage of the present invention over prior art isappreciated when a section of the Secondary Target is removed forming anaperture that corresponds to the anatomical area the shooter must impacton a human threat so as to cause immediate physiological and mentalincapacitation, such as the critical area of the head containing thebrain, that when impacted by a projectile, prevents the human threatfrom harming either the shooter or innocent bystanders.

When the present invention is configured with an aperture in theSecondary Target, the shooter is visibly alerted when the projectiledoes not pass thru the aperture. In this example, when the projectilemisses both the Primary Target and Secondary target, the coloredindicating light remains fully on. This action has the trainingadvantage of alerting the shooter that the projectile missed both thePrimary Target and the Secondary Target. But when the projectile doesnot pass thru the aperture and impacts any area of the Secondary Target,the invention extinguishes the colored indicating light for thenoticeably different time interval e.g. 500 milliseconds, than thecolored indicating light extinguished when only the Primary Target aloneis impacted by a projectile e.g. 200 milliseconds, thus indicating tothe shooter that the projectile impacted the Secondary Target in an area(such as the shoulder) that would not have immediately incapacitated thethreat human. This is a critical indication for the training of theshooter as it alerts the shooter that the projectile impact on the humanthreat was not in a critical area that would have been incapacitating tothe threat human and by missing the critical area the threat human wouldcontinue to function and harm the shooter or innocent bystanders. Theshooter immediately recognizes that additional accurate projectileimpacts on only the Primary Target are required.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable target apparatus, comprising: a) aprimary target composed of a material penetrable to a projectile, and b)a secondary target composed of the material penetrable to theprojectile, positioned near the primary target and c) a control circuitand a position drive assembly operable to move the primary target from aposition within the user's field-of-view to a position not within theuser's field-of-view when only the primary target is impacted by a userselectable number of projectile impacts and d) a control circuitoperable to not move the primary target from the position within theusers field-of-view to the position not within the user's field-of-viewwhenever the secondary target is impacted by any projectiles.
 2. Theportable target apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a colored indicatinglight extinguishes for a time interval when only the primary target isimpacted by a projectile.
 3. The portable target apparatus of claim 1,wherein: the colored indicating light extinguishes for a time intervalnot equal to the time interval in claim 2, whenever the secondary targetis impacted by a projectile.
 4. The portable target apparatus of claim1, wherein: the primary target resembles a living creature.
 5. Theportable target apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the secondary targetresembles a living creature and a. an aperture in the secondary targetis in a location of at least one of a head and a chest area of theliving creature.
 6. The portable target apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: a. an automatic reset circuit operable to, after a userselectable time interval, move the primary target from the position notin the user's field-of-view to the position within the user'sfield-of-view.